Originally posted by bckrazy
(because the dog lacks training and, despite the painful collar they're wearing, in their minds they are still the alpha).
I disagree with this. Timber has always and will always be a very submissive dog. She has never shown any dominant behaviour towards a human. She would show lots of submissive urination when she was young. The prong collar also does not cause her any pain. Timber is very sensitive to pain. When something hurts her, she yelps. She does not even pull when she wears a prong collar -- which means she doesn't feel pain, nor does she even feel any discomfort. IF she is not feeling any pain or even any discomfort, I don't see how it is cruel. In my mind, letting her wear something that is potentially dangerous (ie, she can pull out of, she can drag with, or causes tracheal damage), is what is cruel. The only thing that works with her is a prong collar. No pain, no discomfort, because when she wears it, she does not pull at all.